Groovy Green Greeting Cards

Consider these creative alternatives to conventional greeting cards that both you and the environment can appreciate. (The ideas are ordered from the least effort to the most effort.)

* Send E-Cards. Care2 offers a gigantic directory of options, and you will not waste a single tree.
* Send 100 percent recycled paper or tree-free cards made by environmental organizations like Defenders of Wildlife.
* Glue pictures from old cards onto homemade or store-bought recycled paper to create new cards.
* Glue pretty paper on the inside of old cards to cover previous writing–and send them again.

Make Beautiful Recycled Paper Out of Paper Shreds
Step 1: Cut junk mail into small shreds, soak it in warm water for about 2 hours, and blend it in a blender.

Step 2: Add small quantities of flowers, grass, and leaves for fun, color, and texture.

Step3: Spread it out on a flat, fine-holed, wire-mesh screen—use a rolling pin to flatten it.

Step 4: Smear a tablespoon of cornstarch over the paper to increase its strength.

Step 5: When it dries, you can use this paper as stationary, to decorate used boxes, or even to make holiday cards. (For an even prettier look, glue dried flowers on top of the paper.)

Read more: Green Gifts, Holidays, Life

By Kim Master and the Care2 staff.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Robert O.

5:34PM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Thanks Annie.

send a green star

Joy W.

2:13AM PST on Feb 9, 2012

Thanks for the ideas.

KS G.

2:42AM PDT on Mar 26, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Brenda T.

2:56AM PDT on Mar 19, 2011

Cheerful!!

Bon L.

4:51AM PST on Feb 25, 2011

Thanks for the info.

Annick L.

3:27PM PST on Feb 2, 2011

Cool ideas

ShiatsuCat D.

12:40AM PST on Dec 2, 2010

I did that as a child, completely forgot about it, good reminder!

Mari '.

4:05AM PST on Nov 13, 2010

Thanks

Melody Q.

11:06AM PDT on Mar 14, 2010

I thought there was an actual greeting card available for sending to others. No problem! I found the 6 slides very interesting--omg! what today's children are able to absorb and integrate into their daily lives! The slides are noted for the coming St. Patrick's Day/Evacuation Day; I think somehow we'll survive on planet earth.

Judith C.

9:50PM PST on Mar 13, 2010

Very creative ideas